A week had passed since JungMin had stopped by, RyeoWook keeping the visit to himself. It wasn't all that hard to hide; JongWoon seemed distracted lately.

There was only two weeks left before finals, then RyeoWook would be able to work full-time at the shop. It was something he'd been waiting for for a long time, and he wanted to make sure JongWoon knew just how much he appreciated the older man being there for him and supporting him throughout the years. Working on his budget between dessert orders, RyeoWook was pleased to note his relentless saving had paid off.

That night he was late coming back home, hurrying down the street and a little out of breath. He still had to fix dinner, but his mind wasn't on food just then. RyeoWook took the elevator up to their floor, unlocking the door to the apartment and stepping in. "JongWoon?"

"Yeah?" JongWoon called coming out of the bedroom, trying to hide the fact that he was out of breath as well. It had only been his second day of working for his father, something he wasn't going to let RyeoWook know about until he absolutely needed to know. It worked out really well that the hours he was at work were close to the same as RyeoWook's, he just had to literally run home to get there before RyeoWook did. "Hey, how was work?"

"Good, we had a lot of people come in today," RyeoWook smiled, slipping off his shoes and his jacket. Setting his bag down, he met JongWoon halfway and leaned up to give the older man a kiss. "Sorry I'm late, I'll start on dinner right away. What were you up to today?"

"Oh you know, internet, stuff," JongWoon shrugged, returning the kiss. "You need any help with dinner or anything or just want me out of the way."

"Sorry JongWoon, you're many things but a cook isn't one of them," RyeoWook chuckled. "I do want to show you something first though." He took JongWoon's hands and drew him over to the couch.

"Mmmm.. show me something huh?" JongWoon grinned, following RyeoWook like a puppy. Soon as they were seated he leaned in to give RyeoWook a deep kiss, hand going to the man's hip.

The hand against his hip was thwarted by a small box in RyeoWook's pants pocket. Chuckling into the kiss, RyeoWook broke it after a moment, cheeks slightly pink. "Impatient? You have to close your eyes first."

"Not impatient, but now I'm curious," JongWoon said, pulling back a little. "Should I be a little afraid of this adventurous side of you?"

"Maybe, but not right now," RyeoWook grinned. He waited for JongWoon to close his eyes before pulling the box out of his pocket. He opened it, holding it in front of him. "Okay, you can open your eyes."

JongWoon cracked one eye open hesitantly before opening them both and blinking at the ring. "Wookie...." he said, his expression softening. The ring was beautiful, platinum band and an understated design. It was definitely something RyeoWook would pick out. "It's beautiful."

Smiling widely, RyeoWook removed the engagement ring from the box. He took one of JongWoon's hands, slipping it onto the other man's ring finger. "Perfect fit," he whispered, before smiling up at JongWoon.

"Is that a comment about the ring, or us," JongWoon chuckled, lacing his fingers with RyeoWook's and pulling him closer. "It's perfect Wookie, just like you."

"I wouldn't say that," RyeoWook murmured, shifting closer and wrapping his other arm around JongWoon's waist. "If I'm perfect, it's because you make me perfect."

JongWoon snorted at that, pulling RyeoWook into his lap. "I do no such thing. You came into this world perfect, and perfect just for me. I love you, so much."

"I love you too," RyeoWook replied, smiling widely. He secured both arms around JongWoon, kissing him deeply.

"I think I need a snack before dinner," JongWoon murmured around RyeoWook's lips, his hands sliding up the back of the man's shirt.

"I thought I told you no snacks before dinner," RyeoWook chuckled, but he didn't look inclined to pull away, back arching slightly.

He'd just pushed JongWoon onto his back when the phone went off. Pulling back and panting, RyeoWook glanced at it and blinked. "That's for the door downstairs. Did you invite someone over?"

"No, ignore it," JongWoon grumbled, trying to pull RyeoWook back down to resume the kiss. "They'll go away."

"I'm not ignoring it," RyeoWook protested, swatting at JongWoon's hands. "It could be important." He managed to roll off of the couch, climbing back to his feet and going to the phone. He wrinkled his nose playfully at JongWoon before turning back and picking up the phone. "Hello?"

Within five seconds the smile was gone from RyeoWook's face, his eyes slowly widening. "O-oh…hi mom."

JongWoon shot up, looking at RyeoWook in horror. His parents were here? He was just being facetious about what they do if his parents would stop by, because he never thought they actually would. What did they want?

"Dad's with you too…? …Of course, it's fine… Yeah… I'll let you in." RyeoWook pressed the button to open the door downstairs before hanging up the phone. His hands were shaking.

"Wookie..." JongWoon walked up behind him, putting his hands on RyeoWook's shoulders. "Do you want me to be here when they get here? What are we going to do?"

"I don't know…" RyeoWook turned around, looking at JongWoon with wide eyes. "I don't know what to do. They're going to notice…I can't hide it." He didn't want to hide it.

"Look, we're not going to say anything if you don't want to," JongWoon said, trying to remain calm for his fiancé’s sake. "If they question anything, we'll answer. But we don't have to tell them anything until you're ready okay?"

"Okay…okay," the other man nodded, exhaling slowly. He hoped his parents weren't hoping to stay for dinner, but chances of that were slim. Reaching up, RyeoWook gripped JongWoon's collar and pulled him into a hard kiss, eyes tightly shut.

JongWoon returned the searing kiss, holding RyeoWook tightly to him, not letting up until there was a knock on the door. He finally pulled back at that, giving RyeoWook a smile that he hoped was supportive as he took a step back.

RyeoWook tried to return the smile and was sure he failed, heart racing as he turned to the door. He barely had time to pray this went well before he'd crossed to the entranceway, unlocking the door and opening it.

"Mom, dad, come in," he tried to relax and put on a proper smile, stepping back out of the way and bowing his head slightly. His parents walked in, looking around as RyeoWook closed the door.

"Well, this is a nice place isn't it," his mother was all pleasant smiles, taking off her shoes. "Who is this?" she asked, seeing JongWoon.

"That's JongWoon…my…roommate," RyeoWook said, hoping JongWoon could forgive him for being a coward. "Let me take your coats," he held his hands out, getting their coats and hanging them up.

"Hello," JongWoon bowed, smiling as best he could at the two. This could go horribly, horribly wrong.

"So…mom, dad, what brings you here?" RyeoWook asked. "It's a long way from Incheon."

"Your father had a meeting nearby, and we thought we'd stop in and see our only son for his birthday," his mother said, his father still looking around.

Oh, right. His birthday. RyeoWook had completely forgotten it was coming up. "Well…let me show you around," he smiled tensely, stepping away from the entranceway.

He showed this parents around the apartment, pretending JungMin's room was JongWoon's and hoping they wouldn't notice the abundance of belongings in the other room. Thankfully they didn't seem to notice anything amiss, RyeoWook successfully distracting his mother with questions about how things were back in Incheon. His father was quiet, but then again he had never been very talkative.

Seeing there was little chance he could usher his parents back out so soon when they were here all the way from Incheon, RyeoWook offered to make tea for everyone. Sitting his parents down in the living room, he drew JongWoon into the kitchen to 'help'.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, eyes wide. "You don't have to stay here if you're uncomfortable."

"And leave you alone? No," JongWoon said, shaking his head. "It's okay, we'll get through this I promise." He did raise an eyebrow at RyeoWook though. "Though why am I sleeping in the guest room when I'm the one paying for the apartment?"

"…" RyeoWook flushed. "Because my mom would have raised a fuss if she thought I was using a pullout couch," he whispered. "I'm sorry, I was thinking fast." He hurried to fix the tea, still jittery.

"It's okay," JongWoon said, rubbing his hand up and down RyeoWook's back to help calm him. "We'll give them some tea, talk a little, then send them on their way. We'll be fine."

"We will be," RyeoWook nodded. They had to be fine.

Finishing the tea, he gave JongWoon a tense smile before heading back out into the living room. "Hope it's okay," he held out the cups of barley tea to his parents.

"It smells wonderful, thank you," his mother smiled as RyeoWook and JongWoon sat back down.

"So, RyeoWook," his father finally spoke, placing the tea down to let it cool. "You'll be turning 26 in a few days. Still no girlfriend to bring home to your parents?"

RyeoWook tried to control his heart rate, unable to even look at JongWoon beside him. He sat with his hands clasped in his lap, the engagement ring hidden. "No, dad. I haven't found anyone yet."

"You shouldn't wait so long, Wookie," his mother chiding gently. "Wait too long and all the good Christian girls will be gone, our hard-working son deserves the best."

"Thank you for your concern, mom, I'll keep looking," RyeoWook smiled nervously.

Before he could change the subject away, his father spoke again. "We've been speaking with Im sshi, you remember him and his wife right?" When RyeoWook nodded, his father continued. "Their daughter Yoona is still single, I would like you to meet her."

RyeoWook's heart sank. "She's a delightful girl, and you used to enjoy singing in choir together," his mother was saying, but RyeoWook wasn't listening. "Just tell us when you're free next week Wookie, and we'll arrange something with her."

"No…no," RyeoWook shook his head, eyes wide. "Mom, dad, I don't want to date Im Yoona."

"Why not?" His mother asked. "She's the sweetest girl."

"She is, but I…I don't want to date her." RyeoWook looked back at JongWoon with wide eyes, trying to figure a way out of this mess. But there was no way out, and the engagement ring felt heavy on his finger. How much longer could he keep lying to them and to himself?

"I don't understand dear, the priest himself said you both would be blessed together."

"I already have someone," RyeoWook said, and silence fell. His hands shook in his lap, heart thudding in his ears. "Mom, dad, I'm sorry, but I already have someone I love. I’m sorry I never told you. I don't like girls, I like guys."

"…I'm sorry, what?" His mother asked after a short silence. Both parents stared at their son who struggled to meet their gaze, chin lifted.

"I've never liked girls, ever. I'm gay. I'm sorry to have to tell you like this, but I'm gay."

"…Lord help us." His father stood up. "You're coming back home Kim RyeoWook."

"Dad—" RyeoWook's eyes widened as he was grabbed by the front of his shirt and pulled up off the couch.

"Hey!" JongWoon was up on his feet, trying to get in between RyeoWook and his father. "You can't just come in here and start pulling him around like that, he's not a child, he's an adult!"

"He's my son, and I won't allow him to be turned into one of those abominations," RyeoWook's father snapped, pushing JongWoon away.

"Don't touch him!" RyeoWook pulled JongWoon back, eyes wide. "Dad, I'm not an abomination."

"You're a sinner RyeoWook, but it can be okay, God can still save you."

"Honey, come with us," his mother pleaded, standing too. "We can fix you."

"I don't need fixing." RyeoWook shook his head, eyes wide. "I'm fine. God gave me JongWoon, he did save me!"

"You did this to our son? You heathen!" His mother's expression twisted. Before JongWoon could move away, she slapped him across the face. "How dare you touch him?!"

"Mom!" RyeoWook got between them and his boyfriend and was seized by his father, the older man physically dragging his son a few feet to the door.

The hit didn't hurt, just a light sting, but JongWoon couldn't believe she'd actually hit him. He was almost too befuddled to realize what was happening. They were trying to take RyeoWook away from him. "Let him go or I'm calling the police!" he said, taking a step forward. "Get out of our house, or I will file charges."

"Let go!" RyeoWook tore his arm out of his father's grasp, stepping back. "There's nothing wrong with me! Please, just leave!"

"I won't have a gay son," his father snapped. "And I won't let you drag us down into sin along with you. You're not a part of our family."

RyeoWook watched with wide eyes as his father and mother left the apartment, his mother still screaming insults at JongWoon. He didn't move even when the door slammed shut.

JongWoon went to the door, locking all the locks and throwing on the bolt for good measure. He wasn't letting those people back in his home ever again. Turning back to RyeoWook, he didn't say anything as he folded the smaller man into his arms and held him tightly. What could he possibly say after what had just happened? No wonder RyeoWook had put it off for so long.

RyeoWook didn't even notice he was shaking until JongWoon pulled him into a hug. Eyes shutting, he wrapped his arms back around JongWoon and held onto his fiancé tightly.

"I knew that was going to happen," he whispered.

"I'm sorry, I wish there was something I could have done," JongWoon replied, running his hand up and down RyeoWook's back. "I'm sorry I didn't take you seriously when you said your parents were like this... I can't believe they just... they wanted to fix you, like you were broken. You're not broken, you're perfect."

"Am I?" RyeoWook asked, and he didn't sound certain anymore. He didn't want to open his eyes, or let go of JongWoon. Maybe he was a sinner, to put his family through so much pain.

"Yes, absolutely perfect," JongWoon said, kissing the side of his head. "You are my reason for everything Wookie. Your smile, your laugh, the fact that you cook all day and come home and make me food and don't even complain about it." He pulled back enough to look at RyeoWook's face properly, holding his cheeks in his hands. "You are, so beautiful and wonderful and kind. You make every day better just by being in it."

RyeoWook met JongWoon's eyes, hands covering those against his cheeks. He took JongWoon's words to heart, eyes teary. "This isn't a sin," he whispered. "Right?"

"It's not a sin to be in love," JongWoon replied, shaking his head.

Tears spilling over, RyeoWook kissed JongWoon before burying his face in his fiancé's shoulder. "I love you so much," he said quietly. "You're my sign from God that there's things worth living for. Thank you, thank you so much JongWoon…"

"I love you too RyeoWook," JongWoon replied, just letting RyeoWook lean against him. "I will do anything I can to make you happy, no matter what the cost. You deserve everything and more."

"I don't want everything, I just want you," RyeoWook whispered. He cried for a few minutes, as the shock of what had just happened wore off. Finally he pulled back, wiping at his eyes. "I need to make dinner."

"No, we'll order in," JongWoon said. "You are going to relax. Sit on the couch and watch some tv, lay in bed and read... whatever you want to do right now."

"But I promised I'd make you barbeque pork tonight," RyeoWook looked up at JongWoon.

"And it can wait until tomorrow," JongWoon said, brushing the tearstains from RyeoWook's cheeks. "Let me take care of you tonight, you're always the one trying to take care of me. It's my turn."

"Okay," RyeoWook looked down. Heartbreak was still evident in his eyes, being disowned by his parents had hurt him deeply. "I'm sorry, tonight was supposed to be happy…"

"That's not something you could control," JongWoon said. "We can still make it happy okay? We'll watch a movie, have some wine... anything you want." He sighed a little, taking RyeoWook's hands and pulling him over to the couch to sit down. "As horrible as their reaction was, I'm very proud of you for finally telling them. It takes a lot of courage to do that, and you could have just as easily gone along with what they wanted. But you didn't."

RyeoWook sat down, leaning against JongWoon's shoulder and closing his eyes. "It was bad enough I had to pretend you were just a roommate," he murmured. "I didn't want to be set up with anyone…I don't want to be with anyone but you."

"As far as I'm concerned, you won't be with anyone but me," JongWoon said, cuddling him close. Taking RyeoWook's hand, he toyed with the ring on the man's finger. "I asked you to marry me, I'm not letting anyone come between us before that happens, and definitely not after."

"I'm not letting that happen either," RyeoWook whispered. "Not even…not even my parents." He held onto JongWoon tightly, shoulders shaking.

"Or my parents for that matter," JongWoon said, tucking RyeoWook's head under his chin. "The only one who can come between us right now is God, and he'd be cruel to take you away from me after everything we've been through."

"God led me to you," RyeoWook said quietly. "The day we met, I was so…discouraged, I don't think I could have gone much lower. I went to church that morning and prayed for a sign that I'm not going to hell…that there's a point to living in so much pain. When I got to work, I found my coworker had called in sick and I had to do the catering service that night instead." His arms tightened around JongWoon's waist. "And I met you. God answered my prayers and gave me you."

"You know I'm not as... devout as you are," JongWoon said, frowning a little. "But maybe it was God's plan all along. He puts things in our path to test us, test our strength. When I met you, I was a rich, spoiled brat who would do anything if I thought it made my parents angry. That night, I decided I was going to try to seduce one of the help at the party. I never expected to fall in love with you so quickly. God wanted us together, I know that with every fiber of my being. We belong together."

"We do," RyeoWook nodded. He lifted his head slowly, looking back at JongWoon. "We belong together. I’m not perfect, but you make me feel like I am, and I don't want to ever be without you."

"I'm not perfect either, but with you I feel like I am can do anything," JongWoon said, leaning in to kiss RyeoWook's forehead. "I'm not letting you go anywhere, ever."

"I'm not going anywhere." RyeoWook smiled shakily at the kiss. He would still be reeling over the evening's events for a long time, and honestly didn't know what he'd do without the support of his parents who had always had his back until now. But as long as he had JongWoon beside him, that was the most important thing. JongWoon was his whole reason for living now.

Sorry for the long wait for an update! /o\ Heart-wrenching chapter for you.

Subscribe, upvote and/or comment if you don't like RyeoWook's parents.

@tehreem: LOL Saeng stares cause he's protective of our Kyu ;) Best friends looking out for each other~

@Forever5501: Love love your spazzes <33 And if Yunho had his way, he'd definitely get Saeng into modeling xD Saengie's cute.

@Forest_pixi: I don't know the answers to those questions xD;; Especially the who stole the cookie one. We have a little cookie monster running loose. (Though let's be honest, it was probably one of MinJoon's twin rugrats running around on the Proteus). Yunho doesn't know any of what's happening with Saeng, so he's trying his best not to make things worse xD;; And...probably not succeeding. Sorry for making you wait so long bb, please forgive me? /cute pouty face

@ping501: Yunho's straight in this story xD;; (Though believe me, it would make things a HELL of a lot easier for us LGBT folk if everyone we crushed on in real life turned out to be gay/lesbian/bi). Lolol awwww don't worry about those people on the other end of the table, everyone acts a little crazy every now and then =P Hope you had a good holiday <3

@LovelyYS: Sorry for the wait bb :( Hopefully this chapter was heart-wrenching enough for me to be forgiven? No pairing here has it easy...

@katiemae01: Hehe awww <33 Smiling is good for you!

@Heokvitka: Saeng's crush on Yunho definitely isn't making things easier for him xD;; It's gonna be confusing for a while, but we'll get them sorted out <3